I hope that readers of the Savannah Morning News read Dr. Repella's letter very carefully as it is a very important issue.

Consider one of his most important arguments, which is that the poorer members of society are on the short end of the stick regarding cancer prevention, treatment, and cure. But let's be completely honest here: The poor in our society receive very limited healthcare in general. This is often referred to as the Status Syndrome --- the social gradient in health.

Dr. Repella says it is "imperative that we strongly urge our public, private, and governmental partners to provide necessary financial resources." The public consists of us --- taxpayers who are already heavily burdened. The government consists of those who represent the heavily burdened taxpaying public.

Private and public partners may also be represented by the same heavily burdened taxpayer, whether you are a shareholder, customer, or other. In other words, the average citizen who struggles with their own health care costs --- insurance premiums, copays, deductibles, etc, may end up paying exponentially so in order to help cover the expenses of others who don't work, can't work, or can't afford their health care needs.

Inviting the lower and middle class public, who are dangerously close to not being able to afford their own over inflated health care expenses, to help cover the needs of those who cannot afford any is not the answer.

Eliminating HMO's, PPO's, and TPA's might be our starting point. Doctors and facilities need to start getting paid what they are worth - which in most cases is an incredible amount more than they are currently getting paid.

It's time to cut out the middle-man. This would increase physician autonomy and also diminish or eliminate conflict of interest issues involving pharmaceutical companies, physicians, hospitals and research facilities.

The public is tired of the buck always stopping on them. The public is tired of paying an astronomical amount of money for health care needs. Health care costs are just one part of our lives and shouldn't cost us our cars, our homes, or perhaps more importantly, the loss of public trust of our health care providers.

BECKY HANSEN

Savannah

Tips for dealing with jellyfish encounters

Thank you for the interesting jellyfish article July 26. After long experience with stings, I can offer the following remedy for the annual invasion of our spineless friends.

Before you head to the beach or boat, pack an expired credit card or other plastic "scraper," a disposable razor and a jar of "Extra Strength Tiger Balm." Tiger Balm is available at most Health Food stores as a topical analgesic.

I would recommend the small glass jar instead of the metal tin. Keeping the Tiger Balm on ice in your cooler will add to the analgesic effect, but be aware of the dangers of broken glass on the beach or boat!

When stung, gently scrape the area of the sting with the credit card to remove the barbs, consider shaving the area if the scraper cannot get down to the skin because of your hair, and liberally apply the Tiger Balm. Within a few minutes, the sting will subside and be replaced with a cold feeling on your skin. Gently wash the area with a moisturizing shower gel when you get home, and expect to have some peeling in the area where you applied the Tiger Balm.

Warning: Do not put Tiger Balm on sensitive areas, particularly around your eyes, nose, mouth, underarms, and unmentionables! The analgesic is very strong and will cause burning in any area that is sensitive or contains a high percentage of mucous glands.

Enjoy our fine salt water resources and do not let the jellies keep you away.

ALAN R. MITCHELL JR.

Savannah

Doubt in Davis case should give readers pause

After reading the letter to the editor written by Wilson Huff ("News coverage glamorizes murderer," July 25), one hardly knows where to begin.

Initially, I thought that were Troy Davis actually undoubtedly guilty, I might agree with him; however, my respect not only for human life, but for the fact that any human life errs, prevents me from hoping to see the headline, "You kill; you die - even if it takes 16 years."

Considering the unbearable loss that Savannah suffered when Mark MacPhail was so violently taken from her, I can certainly understand the outrage, confusion and bewilderment that many feel about Troy Davis' execution.

Yet, I would bet that very few actually know the facts --- not conjecture masking as what the DA and the police department hope are facts --- but the real truth to this story. I was present at the clemency hearing for Troy Davis, I spoke to the Board on his behalf, and I heard and saw the witnesses, fearful for their own safety, who still traveled to Atlanta to tell the truth.

We can all agree that it would be far easier for these individuals, unconnected, to shut the door on August 19, 1989, and the days that followed, and never look back.

Yet in the midst of fear and alienation, they came to tell the truth. I must wonder what would have to happen for Mr. Huff to feel some level of discomfort with this scheduled execution.

I feel sure that once the truth comes out --- and it will --- that he will feel the same shame over his words as I felt reading them.

LEDRA SULLIVAN

Saint Simons Island

There's plenty for kids to do in Savannah

I spent my entire childhood in this city. I love it and hope to spend my adulthood and my old age here as well. It annoys me when I hear people gripe about the complete dearth of activity in Savannah. ("Savannah should be more kid-friendly," Ronald Kolman, July 25)

Trust me, you do not have to go all the way to St. Louis in order to enjoy time with your children or grandchildren. There is plenty to do here and it's not hard to find.

For starters, there are parks: Daffin Park, Forsyth Park, the new park that just opened on the Southside.

You can visit the beach, take a trip to Fort Pulaski, walk the nature trail there. Children have a blast picking their own fruit out at the Bamboo Farm or visiting Oatland Island. These are just a few inexpensive suggestions for entertaining the kids.

For those who prefer indoor activities, they now have the Savannah Children's Theatre as an option.

Spend a Saturday afternoon watching "Alice in Wonderland" with your children. Or, better yet, enroll them in classes at the Children's Theatre and keep them busy for many afternoons.

There is also no shortage of organizations that could use the help of volunteers, perhaps a more constructive option for teens and pre-teens than sending them off to the cinema or video arcade.

Senior Citizens of Savannah and numerous animal welfare and environmental groups are just a few examples of the diverse choices for kids who want to contribute to their community and fill up their vacant days doing something they like and learning new things in the process. Not to mention the myriad church organizations at work here in the city.

This is a tiny selection of activities that encourage children's play and development while inviting parents to be a part of it. Unlike Mr. Kolman, I do not regard Savannah as a "failure" in this respect at all.